Lufengosaurus facts for kids
Lufengosaurus was a type of early dinosaur that lived in what is now southwestern China. It belonged to a group of dinosaurs called sauropods, which are known for their long necks and tails. Lufengosaurus lived during the Lower Jurassic period, about 190 million years ago.
This dinosaur was special because it was the first complete dinosaur skeleton ever put together and displayed in China. It was also the first dinosaur to be shown on a Chinese postage stamp!
Quick facts for kids Lufengosaurus |
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| Holotype of L. huenei on display at the Paleozoological Museum of China. | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | †Sauropodomorpha |
| Family: | †Massospondylidae |
| Genus: | †Lufengosaurus Young, 1941 |
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Contents
What Was Lufengosaurus Like?
Lufengosaurus was a medium-sized dinosaur for its time. It was an omnivore, meaning it ate both plants and meat. Scientists believe it mainly ate plants, but might have also eaten small animals or insects.
Size and Movement
The largest Lufengosaurus skeleton found is about 6 meters (20 feet) long. It stood about 4 meters (13 feet) tall and was around 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide. This dinosaur weighed about 200 kilograms (440 pounds), which is roughly the same as two adult humans.
Lufengosaurus had strong back legs. Scientists think it could probably walk upright on two legs, especially when reaching for food or moving quickly. However, it likely spent most of its time on all four legs.
A Dinosaur of Firsts in China
Lufengosaurus holds an important place in the history of paleontology in China. The first complete skeleton was discovered in 1941 by a famous Chinese paleontologist named Yang Zhongjian (also known as C.C. Young).
This discovery was a huge step for science in China. It showed the world that China had its own rich history of dinosaurs. The skeleton was carefully put together and displayed for everyone to see.
Images for kids
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Lufengosaurus in a quadrupedal pose, skeleton donated to the Hong Kong Science Museum in 1998
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Lufengosaurus magnus skull, Beijing Museum of Natural History
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Lufengosaurus huenei pelvis.
See also
In Spanish: Lufengosaurus para niños
